#100 Luke 15:25-32 Everything I Have is Yours

On December 4, 2022 by Amy Burgin

Amy:
Episode #100 Luke 15:25-32

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I am Amy Burgin and I co-host this podcast with my daughter Joy, who is taking some time off.

If you’re anything like us, you long for God’s presence and holy direction in the midst of your own wrong-thinking, unpredictable relationships with people you long to love well and calendars and circumstances that breathe down your neck and masquerade as your boss.

Or maybe, you don’t really know who this Jesus is, what he says about you, where you fit in, or why you’re even here. This podcast is also for you. If you’re curious about Christ, put aside what the world or religion has told you and see for yourself who he truly is.

Here, we make room for Christgazing, the act of gazing upon the beauty of the Lord. Each week we read a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God with us.

We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke.

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before we read today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we pour out our hearts to God, exposing the wrong-thinking, wounds, and discouragement inside us so he can fill us up with right-thinking, healing, joy, love, and hope.

So bring your nightmares, your daydreams, your grief, joy, loneliness, togetherness, hurts, and thanksgiving to God in this next minute.

[Pause and pour out your heart to God]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Amy:
Before we read today, let me remind ourselves of the context.

Jesus was eating at a prominent Pharisee’s house. When tax collectors and sinners gathered around to listen to him, the Pharisees and teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

In response to such muttering, as we have covered in the last three episodes, Jesus told three parables: (1) the parable of the lost sheep, (2) the parable of the lost coin, and (3) the parable of the prodigal son.

In today’s passage, Jesus continues the story of the prodigal son, but the focus is now on the prodigal son’s big brother. Remember the prodigal left home with a portion of his father’s hard-earned fortune and wasted it. After reaching rock bottom, the prodigal returned home with the expectation that his father would allow him to become a servant. Instead, his father threw his arms around him, wrapped him in his best robe, and threw a party to celebrate his return.

Today’s passage shows the older brother’s response to this party.

I’m going to read the text two times. As I read, consider the question, what does this tell me about God?

Luke 15:25-32 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Again?

Take a minute to be still and know what this says about God.

[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Amy:
As I re-read the text, consider the question, What does this say about people?

Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?

[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?

Amy:
As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?” If it helps, put yourself in the narrative.

Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”

[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Amy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward Jesus today and know him personally.

One Response

Amy:
My father was a crane operator. He worked outdoors in the elements and when he came home in the evenings, I could see he had worked hard all day. Each evening, I unlaced and removed his steel-toed work boots while mom put dinner on the table.

When we made a purchase, we equated the purchase to the number of hours it took Daddy to work for it.

The thought of squandering his hard work was deplorable. I can relate to the older brother.

But God’s mind is not focused on the cost of things.

His mind is focused on the value of his children, who are worth the cost of everything.

Closing

Amy:
You can find a transcript of this episode and all our episodes at amyburgin.com. We will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.